After choking the mother of his child in a driveway, a man that was found guilty of domestic violence by a jury will spend the next 18 months in prison.

Chace Willey, 23, was originally charged with one count of domestic violence and one count of abduction following an incident on March 31.

After taking the case to trial, Willey was found guilty of domestic violence with a prior offense, a fourth degree felony. The jury did not find him guilty of the abduction charge as the jurors concluded that both offenses occurred simultaneously, finding that the defendant should only be convicted of one offense.

On the morning of March 31, Willey and his child’s mother were exchanging the child when Willey and the victim were sitting in the front seat with the child in the back seat.

While the two were talking in the front seat, Willey wanted to discuss the duo’s relationship and the woman wanted to leave. Willey grabbed a water bottle and squirted it in the car, making a mess, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Gerald Anderson said of the facts stated during the trial.

As the woman went to exit the car, Willey grabbed her by the hair to pull her into the vehicle and would not let her get out. Then the two exited the car to clean up the mess and Willey apologized.

After going back outside after retrieving towels from inside the house Willey was staying at to clean up the water, Willey again wanted to discuss the relationship with the woman. He pinned her up against another vehicle in the driveway by her throat, Anderson said.

The victim screamed for help before dropping to the ground as a result of getting choked.

Willey’s brother exited the house after the woman dropped to the ground. Willey began talking to his brother as the woman got up and left in her vehicle.

She called 911 after leaving the driveway, Anderson said.

Throughout his trial, Willey maintained his innocence by attempting to blame his victim for the crime and her injuries.

“Mr. Willey accepted no responsibility at any time,” Assistant Prosecuting Attorney John Litle said in court during Willey’s sentencing hearing.

It was also stated in court that the defendant’s bond was revoked more than once throughout the case as Willey failed a drug test and also kept in contact with the victim.

Due to those circumstances, and his lack of acceptance, Litle requested Willey be sentenced to 18 months in prison.

Defense attorney David Mortimer said his client disagreed with the jury’s verdict to find him guilty of domestic violence and requested community control or a minimal sentence in the case.

Willey also added a few words stating that he took responsibility and that his son is the one suffering the most from this case.

Echoing his attorney’s request, Willey requested Judge Mark Fleegle give him a chance to demonstrate how much he could change.

Referencing his lack of acceptance of his actions, as well as a large amount of calls that Willey made to the victim while in jail, Fleegle said Willey was not behaving like a man that wanted to change and sentenced him to 18 months in prison.